Table



Feb. 17, 1942; D, mm; 2,273,006.

TABLE Filed May 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TABLE David Carlson, Chicago, Ill. Application May 29, 1940, Serial No. 337,839

4 Claims.

My invention relates to tables and particularly to a table having a folding top adapted for use in a number of different arrangements.

An object of my invention is to provide a table having folding leaves hinged at their junction with the main top, thus avoiding the need for separate leaves commonly used for expanding and contracting the effective size of the table top.

As a further improvement in tables of this type, I provide for an intermediate size of the top in which only two of the four leaves are swung outwardly, thus providing an elongated table having pointed ends. This provides a luncheon table adapted to seat six persons without requiring the large floor space that would be necessary if the table were expanded to its full square outline. However, in order to accomplish the last named result, it is necessary to provide means for correcting the level whereby to insure a plane surface over the entire area of the top. Two of the leaves will, in this modified position, remain in their folded position and in order to level the top I provide for the raising of the complementary sections of the main top.

One of the particular uses of a table such as described is that of a card table with its leaves in folded position. After the game, the table may be enlarged and reshaped as desired in order to serve luncheon, with more adequate space than is provided by the usual card table.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings; in

. which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table constructed in accordance with my invention, the leaves being folded over the top;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same table with the leaves unfolded, thereby providing a square table of considerably greater area;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a table with two of the leaves unfolded, thus providing an elongated top;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-43 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the elevated mechanism in a difierent position; and,

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views on the line 88 of Fig. 4, the parts being shown in the respective positions of Figs. 6 and 7.

The table comprises a rigid rectangular frame composed of side frames l2--l3|4l5, joined at their ends in the usual manner. Leg sockets the sockets serving to support legs I! in any desired manner.

Rigidly secured to the side frames I3|5 are the triangular top sections l8-l 9, each of which has secured thereto by suitable hinges, second triangular sections 20'-2l. Slides 2223 mounted in guideways on the side frames are adapted to be projected outwardly in order to underlie the folding sections, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Similar slides 24-25 act to support the second pair of foldable sections, about to be described.

The complementary triangular sections 26-2| and their foldable triangular sections 2829 secured in hinged relation are carried on an auxiliary frame consisting of bars 30--3l and cross pieces 32-33. The ends of the bars 303l are guided at their ends in notches formed in the side frames I2l4. A cross piece 34 extending between and rigidly secured to the side frames l3-I5 acts to support a leaf spring 35, the two ends of which overlie the bars 30-3l and act to supplement the force of gravityin restoring the movable sections to their original position.

As a means for positively raising the sections 2621 with their attached extension sections 2829, I provide a cam system, best shown in Figs. 4 to 9. This comprises shafts 36-31 mounted in suitable bearings at their ends and carrying arms 38 having cam surfaces adapted to engage blocks 39 fixed to the movable sections 26-21. A rod 40 connects the two shafts, and an operating arm 4| connected to the shaft 36 provides means for actuating the respective cams in unison in order to raise and lower the movable sections of the top.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the cam members 38 provide extension fingers 42 adapted to engage within a notch provided in a metal piece 43 secured to the blocks 39. When in the lowered position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 8, the finger 42 is interlocked with the piece 43 and either upward or downward movement of the movable sections is prevented. This construction is provided for all four of the cams, although specifically illustrated in connection with but one thereof. As the cam is rotated to lift the movable section, the finger rotates out of engagement with the piece 43, as best shown in Fig. 9. In order to provide a flat top table of the shape shown in Fig. 3, it is necessary only to unfold the sections 2B29, then exert a pull on the operating arm 4|, thus raising the sections 26-21 to the level of the folded sections 202l. No latch is necessary in order to hold the parts in [6 are held at the junctions of the side frames, this position, since the cams 20 will be on center.

By the means described above I have provided for three sizes of table, all without removable or separable leaves. Furthermore, by removal of the legs from the frame, the table may be folded into small compass when its use is not required.

Obviously other shapes and arrangements may be provided for and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a table frame and a top secured thereto, said top being composed of fixed and vertically movable triangular sections, and triangular leaves hinged to the marginal edges of said top sections, two of said leaves that are secured to the movable sections being adapted to be unfolded andito be raised with the movable sections to bring their top surfaces into the plane of the folded sections.

2. In a table having a frame and legs, the combination of two triangular top sections fixed to the frame and two complementary top sections vertically movable relative to said frame, and triangular leaves pivoted to the marginal edges of said fixed and movable top sections, said hinged leaves being adapted to be unfolded to provide a rectangular table of larger size, or the leaves hinged to the movable sections being adapted to be unfolded and said movable sections raised to form an elongated table having a plane top.

3. In a table having a frame and legs, the combination of two triangular top sections fixed to the frame, an intermediate frame and two triangular sections fixed to the intermediate frame, triangular leaves hinged to the marginal edges of the top sections, and means for vertically moving said intermediate frame to adjust the plane of the movable sections to conform to the plane of the fixed sections and the leaves folded thereon.

4. In combination, a table frame and a top secured thereto, said top being composed of fixed and vertically movable triangular sections, and triangular leaves hinged to the marginal edges of said top sections, two of said leaves that are secured to the movable sections being adapted to be unfolded and to be raised with the movable sections to bring their top surfaces into the plane of the folded sections, and manually movable cam members acting at a plurality of points be-. neath said vertically .movable sections to raise said sections.

DAVID CARLSON. 

